Judiciary
Los Angeles declared most abusive ‘judicial hellhole,’ report says
December 10, 2025, 9:29 am CST
Rampant lawsuit abuse, “eye-popping” “nuclear verdicts” and allegations of fraud and racketeering against lawyers have made Los Angeles the worst of what it calls America’s most abusive court systems. (Image from Shutterstock)
Rampant lawsuit abuse, “eye-popping” “nuclear verdicts” and allegations of fraud and racketeering against lawyers have made Los Angeles the worst of what it calls America’s most abusive court systems.
That’s according to the American Tort Reform Association’s 2025-2026 “judicial hellholes” rankings, Legal Newsline reports.
The association compiles and publishes the list each year to bring attention to U.S. courts that are “the most welcoming to lawsuits and most hostile to businesses and employers in the way judges apply and interpret the law and court rules,” Legal Newsline noted.
According to the American Tort Reform Association, Los Angeles’ abusive legal system results in real costs for California and its residents, estimating “lawsuit abuse and excessive tort costs wipe out” nearly $96 billion from the state’s economy every year and cost more than 407,000 jobs.
This year, the American Tort Reform Association highlighted eight jurisdictions—including state, county and city court systems—that it thinks should be considered the worst for laws, policies and rules that enable suit abuse and create hostile and costly legal environments for employers and others.
Los Angeles claimed the top spot for the first time, followed by New York City and South Carolina’s court system.
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